1890.] Recent Literature. 1177 
RECENT LITERATURE. 
The Trees of Northeastern America.!—It is rarely the case 
that one meets with a more satisfactory book than this designed for the 
non-technical reader. Too often such books are either too technical 
and scientific for the class of readers to which they are addressed; or, 
still more frequently, they are so utterly devoid of all science that 
they are entirely useless. The book before us more nearly strikes the 
golden mean between these extremes than any we have seen. Mr. 
Newhall has admirably succeeded in his attempt to make a book 
“which in simple fashion will so describe the tree from its foliage and 
bark and style ’’ that one can recognize it. 
The general classification adopted is as follows : 
edge entire 
alternate * toothed 
Leaves simple * lobed 
j opposite m 
feather-shaped f alternate 
opposite 
Leaves compound 
; hand-shaped, opposite 
This key leads to groups of genera in which the species are clearly- 
described. Thus in the first group of ‘‘ trees with simple leaves, 
alternate and entire," we find descriptions of Magnolia acuminata, M. 
glauca, M. tripetala, Asimina triloba, Cercis canadensis, Nyssa sylvatica, 
Diospyros virginiana, Sassafras officinale. Then follow those with sim- 
ple alternate leaves which are toothed on their edges, and so on. 
Rough outline sketches of the leaves and fruits help the reader to 
easily identify any tree ordinarily found in the forests. It will be of 
great value to nurserymen and tree-growers, A good feature of the. 
book is the modern nomenclature which is adopted throughout, while 
at the same time the old names are given as synonyms.—CHARLES E. 
BESSEY. 
1 The Trees of Northeastern America. Illustrations from original sketches. By. 
Charles S. Newhall, with an introductory note by Nath. L. Britton, E.M., Ph.D., Colum- 
bia College. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, 1890. 8vo.,250 pp. . 
